Circumlocutions

Supreme Court at night

In the throes of finals preparations, I have been circling an idea that I decided needed to be recorded. I took Federal Jurisdiction this semester with a brilliant professor who was extremely capable of both communicating the intricacies of the material as well as boil it down to what it means to a practicing attorney.

The issue that is gnawing at the back of mind is that the practical use of the class can be cut short to maybe a week of material. Most of it ends with, “…and the Court will end up doing whatever it feels like, so hedge your bets.”

I found the class and material fascinating, but was it necessary? All I needed was for someone to tell me the important cases to cite in certain circumstances and warn me that there’s no telling what will happen… Which, I gather, is the first piece of advice any litigating attorney has to offer.

‘Tis the season! The finals season, as opposed to the holiday season. The two are nearly similar: one is  a time of bitterness, depression and strife; and finals season is even worse.

Allow me to pause while you groan.

Being a non-traditional law student gives me a unique perspective on finals. My day job is extremely flexible and I am able to take days off to study; and my family – my wife, since the kids are too young to have a real say – is also supportive and wonderful, letting me study in (relative) peace while I’m home.

That  being said, life for a non-traditional student does not stop during finals. I can’t study through the night since I have a family to pay some modicum of attention to and work to go to (early) the next morning. I can’t focus my entire brain power solely on the issues of the semester since I have a job that requires the use of my brain. How fondly I recall my days doing construction work! Ok, not so fondly…